KTR Targets Rahul Gandhi After Supreme Court Ruling on Danam Nagendras Disqualification
KTR criticizes Rahul Gandhi following the Supreme Courts dismissal of Danam Nagendras disqualification appeal in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad, September 24 (Daily Kiran) : K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), the executive president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), took aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy following a Supreme Court ruling on Thursday regarding Danam Nagendra‘s disqualification as a legislator. The Supreme Court rejected Nagendra’s plea challenging the Telangana High Court‘s decision, which had declared him ineligible under anti-defection laws.
In a post on social media platform X, KTR referred to the ruling as a “Supreme setback” for Gandhi and Reddy. He emphasized that the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision to disqualify Nagendra, dismissing his attempts to evade disqualification.
KTR accused Gandhi and Reddy of believing they could manipulate the mandate received through defection and hide behind the Assembly Speaker. He stated that the people of Khairatabad would soon deliver their verdict on what he termed their alleged betrayal, unfulfilled promises, and misgovernance.
In another post, KTR ominously noted, “One wicket has fallen—more will follow. Remember my words: ‘Legislator thief’ Rahul Gandhi.”
The Supreme Court, while hearing Nagendra’s plea, declined to intervene in the Telangana High Court’s order. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Suryakant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana, found no grounds for interference.
With this ruling, the High Court’s decision to disqualify Nagendra and declare the Khairatabad Assembly seat vacant remains effective. The High Court had ruled that his disqualification would take effect from April 23, 2024.
Nagendra was elected as a BRS legislator from the Khairatabad seat in the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections. Subsequently, he switched allegiance to Congress and contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Secunderabad seat as a Congress candidate while still serving as a BRS legislator. This prompted the demand for his disqualification.
Earlier, Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar had dismissed petitions seeking Nagendra’s disqualification, a decision that was challenged in the Telangana High Court.
On September 18, the High Court overturned the Speaker’s order, deeming Nagendra ineligible under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, effective from April 23, 2024, after he contested the Lok Sabha elections as a Congress candidate. The court also declared the Khairatabad Assembly seat vacant.
After the High Court’s ruling, Nagendra approached the Supreme Court, but he did not receive relief on Thursday. The Supreme Court’s decision now paves the way for a by-election in the Khairatabad constituency.
